Keycase-flashlight construction



Jan. 3, 1967 s. SCHWARTZ 3,296,429

KEYCASE-FLASHLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1964 INVENTOR. SID Y6) Sam/A1972 United States Patent 3,296,429 KEYCASE-FLASHLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Sidney Schwartz, 10 W. 86th St,

New York, N.Y. 10024 Filed June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 378,885 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-6.4)

This invention relates to portable keycases and more particularly is directed to a pocket-size keycase having a miniature flashlight incorporated therein.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide an improved keycase-flashlight construction of the character described wherein a miniature flashlight is incorporated in a double-flap or similar type keycase to direct a light beam substantially parallel and in close proximity to the longitudinal axis of a key when the latter is in a keyhole inserting position to illuminate the keyhole and otherwise serve as a general utility flashlight when the keys are all retracted and the case closed, which shall comprise few and simple parts that are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble in quantity production, which shall be neat in appearance, rugged in construction, convenient to handle, operate and maintain, and which shall "be practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keycase-light constructed to embody the invention showing a key carried thereby in keyhole inserting position with the light beam illuminating a keyhole and surrounding area.

FIG. 2 is an upper end view of the keycase-light shown in 1 16. 1 but in closed position with the key retracted showing the front of the flashlight.

FIG. 3 is a view of the interior of the keycase-light shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the keycase in open position and spread fiat to show the arrangement of the keyholder and miniature flashlight.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44 in FIG. 3 showing the assembly of the flashlight and case; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of the parts securing the flashlight to the case.

Referring in detail to the drawing, denotes a keycase-light constructed to embody the invention comprising a casing 11 made of any suitable sheet material, such as leather, imitation leather, plastic or the like, fabricated in a single layer or a lamination of a plurality of layers, the sheet material being double folded to provide a center panel 11a, a left side infolding panel 11b and a right side exterior panel 110.

Incorporated in casing 11 is a key ring holder 12 suitably attached, as by eyelet rivets 12a to the upper portion of infolding panel 11b. Key ring holder 12 may be of any conventional construction mounting a plu rality of key rings 13, each adapted to removably receive a key K and to pivot from a closed concealed position within casing 11 shown in FIG. 3 to an open, projecting, keyhole inserting position shown in FIG. 1. Cooperating male and female snap fasteners 14 and 15 mounted on right and left panels 110 and 11b, respectively, serve to retain casing 11 in closed position in the well understood manner.

A feature of the invention is the novel combination and simple manner of incorporating miniature flashlight ice 16 in casing 11. Flashlight 16 may be of any suitable construction, miniaturized preferably by utilizing a button shaped, alkaline-mercury type battery (not shown). Flashlight 16, as here illustrated, is similar to that shown and described in my copending application Ser. No. 298,- 210 filed July 29, 1963 and entitled Miniaturized Flashlight With Replacement Cartridge Unit, having substantially bilaterally separable container 17, light bulb 18 and finger operable button 19.

Flashlight 16 is mounted in a cutout He provided on center panel 11a so that the front end thereof, in which light bulb 18 is positioned, substantially aligns with top edge 11d of casing 11 to project a light beam along the length of key K carried by any of the key rings 13 when in keyhole inserting position. As will be apparent from FIG. 2, flashlight 16 is preferably centralized with respect to the longitudinal bisector of panel 11a and also substantially centralized with respect to the plane thereof to accommodate the thickness of flashlight 16, which is on the order of of an inch, partly on the interior and partly on the exterior of casing 11 when the latter is in closed .position.

To achieve this end, a mounting bracket 20 having a central cradle or depression 20a and upstanding sidewalls 20b is secured to span cutout 11e. Cradle 20a is sized to substantially conform to cutout He and to seat flashlight 16 therein. A laterally extending flange 200 extends from each sidewall 20b and abuts the interior surface of panel 11a along the border of opposite edges of cutout 11e. Decorative clamping plates 21 are positioned on the exterior surface of panel 11a along the border of the opposite edges of cutout 112 in register with flanges 20c and cooperating therewith to fasten bracket 20 to panel 11a. Each of plates 21 has a pair of prongs 21a extending from opposite ends thereof piercing the sheet material of casing 11 and being bent toward each other to grip flange 20c therebetween. The bottom half of flashlight container 17 is suitably attached to cradle 20a as by spaced eyelet rivets 17a.

Keycase-light 10 may be readily assembled with minimum skilled labor and equipment by first cutting casing 11 to size with cutout He in center panel 11a. Key ring holder 12 and snap fasteners 14 and 15 may then be aflixed to their respective panels as shown in FIG. 3. With flashlight 16 mounted in cradle 20a of bracket 20, the latter is placed in register with cutout 11e so that flanges 20c abut the interior surface of center panel 11a bordering cutout lle and clamping plates 21 are then pressed into position on the exterior surface of center panel 11a in register with flanges 20c so that prongs 21a pierce the material of center panel 11a and are bent toward each other upon flanges 200 as is clear from FIG. 3.

The practical utility of keycase-light 10 will now be apparent. As will be clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of keys K are removably carried on key rings 13 in the conventional manner. When casing 11 is in closed position, a compact package is provided which neatly fits into a mans pocket or a ladys handbag. Flashlight 16 is readily available for lighting by finger pressure on button 19 when keycase-light 10 is comfortably held in the hand with the flashlight end between thumb and forefinger, button 19 being normally spring biased in an off position. When one of the keys K is extended from its retracted position within casing 11 to its keyhole inserting position shown in FIG. 1, the beam projected by light bulb 18 will illuminate the lock L to facilitate key insertion into the keyhole thereof.

The improved keycase-flashlight herein disclosed is seen to achieve the several objects of the invention and to be well adapted to meet conditions of practical use. As

various possible embodiments might be made in the above invention, and as various changes :might be made in the disclosed construction, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A keycase-light of the character described comprising a sheet material casing double folded into a center panel, a side infolding panel and an opposite side exterior panel, a key ring holder carried by said side infolding panel adjacent an upper edge of said casing and having a plurality of key rings each adapted to removably carry a key for positioning within the casing and for pivoting to an external keyhole inserting position extending beyond said upper edge, said center panel having a cutout extending inwardly from said upper edge, a miniature flashlight having a light bulb at a front end and a finger pressure operated button on a top side thereof, and means for mounting said flashlight in the cutout centralized thicknesswise with respect to the plane of the center panel orienting the light bulb to substantially align with said upper edge and project a light beam along the key ring when in said external keyhole inserting position and locating the button on the exterior of the casing for access} when the folded casing is grasped in the hand between thumb and forefinger.

2. A keycase-light of the character described comprising a sheet material casing double folded into a center panel, a side infolding panel and an opposite side exterior panel, a key ring holder carried by said side infolding panel adjacent an upper edge of said casing and having a plurality of key rings each adapted to removably carry a key for positioning within the casing and for pivoting to an external keyhole inserting position extending beyond said upper edge, said center panel having a cutout extending inwardly from said upper edge, a mounting bracket having a central cradle, upstanding opposite sidewalls and lateral flanges extending from each sidewall, said cradle being positioned to span said cutout on the interior side of the center panel with the lateral. flanges abutting border portions of the cutout, a clamping plate in register with each of the lateral flanges and abutting opposite sides of said border portions, means extending through said center panel retaining said flanges and.clamping plate in a border portion gripping position, and a miniature flashlight mounted in said cradle, the flashlight having a light bulb positioned to substantially align with said upper edge and project a light beam along the key ring when in said external keyhole inserting position.

3. A keycase-light of the character described comprising a sheet material casing double folded into a center panel, a side infolding panel and an opposite side exterior panel, a key ring holder carried by said side infolding panel adjacent an upper edge of said casing and having a plurality of key rings each adapted to removably carry a key for positioning within the casing and for pivoting to an external keyhole inserting position extending beyond said upper edge, said center panel having a cutout extending inwardly from said upper edge, a miniature flashlight having a light bulb at a front end and a finger pressure operated button on a top side thereof, and means for mounting said flashlight in the cutout centralized thicknesswise with respect to the plane of the center panel, said mounting means comprising a bracket having a central cradle, upstanding opposite sidewalls and lateral flanges extending from each sidewall and a decorative clamping plate for each flange having prongs at opposite ends thereof, said cradle spanning said cutout on the interior side of the center panel with the lateral flanges abutting interior border portions of the cutout, each clamping plate abutting exterior border portions of the cutout in register with one of the flanges, said prongs of each clamping plate extending through said center panel and bent toward each other upon the flange for fastening the bracket to the center panel, said flashlight being mounted in said cradle with the light bulb positioned to substantially align with said upper edge and project a light beam along the key ring when in said external keyhole inserting position and said button located on the exterior of the casing for access when the folded casing is grasped in the hand between thumb and forefinger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,276,370 3/1942 Conrad 2406.4 2,699,192 1/1955 Poutinen 2406.4 2,982,849 5/1961 Volkerling et al. 24010.65

FOREIGN PATENTS 197,740 5/1923 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

JOHN M. HORAN, Examiner.

CHARLES C. LOGAN, II, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KEYCASE-LIGHT OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A SHEET MATERIAL CASING DOUBLE FOLDED INTO A CENTER PANEL, A SIDE INFOLDING PANEL AND AN OPPOSITE SIDE EXTERIOR PANEL, A KEY RING HOLDER CARRIED BY SAID SIDE INFOLDING PANEL ADJACENT AN UPPER EDGE OF SAID CASING AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF KEY RINGS EACH ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY CARRY A KEY FOR POSITIONING WITHIN THE CASING AND FOR PIVOTING TO AN EXTERNAL KEYHOLE INSERTING POSITION EXTENDING BEYOND SAID UPPER EDGE, SAID CENTER PANEL HAVING A CUTOUT EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER EDGE, A MINIATURE FLASHLIGHT HAVING A LIGHT BULB AT A FRONT END AND A FINGER PRESSURE OPERATED BUTTON ON A TOP SIDE THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID FLASHLIGHT IN THE CUTOUT CENTRALIZED THICKNESSWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF THE CEN- 